I m an artist and writer best known for my award-winning blog, Indexed. A fixture in the creative online space, I have been illustrating, consulting, and speaking since 2006.
My new book, 'How to Be Interesting,' began with the Forbes post of the same name. It's now available anywhere books are sold.

How To Be More Interesting (In 10 Simple Steps)

1.Go exploring.Explore ideas, places, and opinions. The inside of the echo chamber is where all the boring people hang out.

2. Share what you discover.And be generous when you do. Not everybody went exploring with you. Let them live vicariously through your adventures.

3. Do something. Anything. Dance. Talk. Build. Network. Play. Help. Create. It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you’re doing it. Sitting around and complaining is not an acceptable form of ‘something,’ in case you were wondering.

4. Embrace your innate weirdness. No one is normal. Everyone has quirks and insights unique to themselves. Don’t hide these things—they are what make you interesting.

5. Have a cause. If you don’t give a damn about anything, no one will give a damn about you.

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Same here. I’ve read a lot in Forbes and never felt compelled to register or comment, but if this piece is an indication of content to come, I’ll be a more engaged reader for sure. I’ve been an “indexed” reader for years and have always found it full of insight and humor. Thanks for including Jessica’s fine work!

Rock on, chica. I’m going to add one more suggestion: Imagine yourself dead. Ten years ago I had terminal cancer and crawled back from the brink. Now I find myself less entitled to another day of living and that much more grateful for having it as a precious gift. I know I’m trading the next 24 hours for something, that I can never get them back once I’ve swapped them, and that I’d better do everything I ought to with this remarkable second chance. Because the next time I end up on my deathbed, I don’t want to be asking myself, “Now what was I doing?”

Great perspective. 10 years ago I had quadruple bypass surgery. Although I didn’t thave a major epiphany I had an awakening. On days I feel like being lazy and laying about I ask myself this question, “If this was your last day on earth, how would you spend it?” I always find a better way to spend my time when I ask that question. I once made a comment to an elderly gentleman to the effect of “Gee I wish this day would hurry and be over with.” he gently reminded me, “Don’t be in such a hurry to spend time you’ll never get back.” I paid attention and never forgot his “gift” to me.

It’s amazing to hear your story and how you’ve survived – I can only imagine what you went through. Besides a renewed focus on life and probably a priority shift, what specifically do you do differently? What kinds of hobbies or passions, or life changes have you made?

I also received a similar gift from an elderly gentleman while flying back home from a business trip. He was heading out for an extended vacation with his family and I commented that I could hardly wait until I had that amount of leisure time. He told me “Not to wish my life away.” It’s a message that has stuck with me. Gotta go … I have a wagon to build!